Nursing Studies - Clinical Skills: The Digestive System

Nursing Studies - Clinical Skills: The Digestive System will teach you the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective care and assistance to any patients who are experiencing gastrointestinal difficulties that you may find in your care.

The course begins by examining the function of the digestive system. You will learn about proteins, carbohydrates and fatty acids, how they are broken down in the digestive system and provide fuel for the body's metabolism. You will then learn about the digestive system and how each part functions in order to ingest, break up and carry food so that digestion can take place. Finally, you will examine the lower digestive system, such as the intestines, pancreas and liver and how they produce enzymes and gastric juices to help in the absorption of food.

The course then focuses on the various diagnostic procedures for identifying disorders of the gastrointestinal system such as auscultation, endoscopy, stool samples and gastric analysis. Here you will learn how to identify the various signs and symptoms which show that a patient is need of consultation with a physician. Next you will examine the steps and procedures for gastric and intestinal intubation, which is the process of passing a tube through the nose or mouth, through the esophagus, and into the stomach or intestine to obtain a specimen of stomach contents, to lavage the stomach or to allow for drainage of stomach contents.

Finally, you will learn about the different types of gastrointestinal disorders such as gastritis, gastroenteritis, peritonitis, ulcers and intestinal obstructions. You will learn how to identify the symptoms and differing treatments for each disorder. Hepatitis and cirrhosis are also explained as well as the steps involved in the assessment and monitoring of a patient's status to aid recovery. You will also learn about diabetes, how it is caused, how to identify the symptoms, as well as emergency treatment procedures.

This nursing course will be of great interest to all health care professionals who would like to learn more about good nursing practices and techniques that help protect and maintain the health and safety of both the nursing professional and patient

Having completed this course you will be able to: - List the six essential nutrients required to maintain life and health. - Explain the mechanics involved in digestion. - List and identify the three major groups of carbohydrates. - Describe the divisions of the stomach - Explain the functions of the stomach. - List and explain the function of, the different body parts of the digestive system. - Explain the time frame involved in the digestive process. - Explain a physical examination of the abdomen involving visual inspection, auscultation, and palpation. - Explain what is meant by a contrast medium. - Identify how to use stool samples to determine the presence of substances that may aid in diagnosis. - Discuss the considerations involved in intestinal decompression. - Explain the procedures involved in gastric and intestinal intubation. - Define the procedures for performing a gastronomy tube feeding. - Describe the symptoms and treatment of the main gastrointestinal disorders. - Explain the disorders which can affect the hepato-biliary system. - Identify the signs and symptoms of diabetes. - Prepare equipment for the testing and analysis of gastrointestinal disorders. - Identify the symptoms of hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis.

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Modules List( 4 )

NURSING STUDIES - CLINICAL SKILLS: THE DIGESTIVE ...

Module1
Physiology of Digestion

The module examines the function of the digestive system and metabolism. You will learn about proteins, carbohydrates and fatty acids, and how they provide fuel for the body's metabolism. You will learn about the lower digestive system, such as the intestines, pancreas and liver and how they produce enzymes and gastric juices to help in the absorption of food.

Module 2 focuses on the various diagnostic procedures for identifying disorders of the gastrointestinal system. Here you will learn how to identify the various signs and symptoms as well as examining the steps and procedures for gastric and intestinal intubation, the process of passing a tube through the nose or mouth, through the oesophagus, and into the stomach or intestine.

In module 3 you will learn about the different types of gastrointestinal disorders and learn how to identify the symptoms and different treatments for each disorder. You will also learn about diabetes, how it is caused, how to identify its symptoms, and make the patient aware of the signs and symptoms, as well as emergency treatment procedures.